Rachel LaFlamStudentSoutheastern UniversityAboutThe last semester of my senior year of high school I thought I had everything figured out. I was accepted into the University of Florida with a full tuition scholarship, I was an editor on the newspaper staff, I had a big group of friends and I was confident in my achievements. I was on top of the world and ready to go conquer college. Except one thing was missing in my life. My relationship with the Lord had slowly deteriorated. Through my quest of trying to succeed academically, athletically, and socially I had pushed the most important thing in my life aside- Jesus Christ. I was born into a great Christian family with both my parents together and three brothers and I have constantly been involved in my church. I accepted Christ as my Lord and savior when I was only three years old. Growing up I attended public school and many of my friends weren’t Christians. This wasn’t a problem until I reached high school. My freshman year of high school I began to see my friends change from the “good girls” to “party girls”. Many of them began looking to boys for approval or got involved in the drinking scene. The popularity scene looked appealing and without any good Christian friends to support me, I found myself believing that joining my friends would bring me satisfaction. Although their scene was temporarily thrilling, it left me feeling guilty and empty. However God has always had a close eye on me. My parents soon found out about the actions of my friends and the path I was beginning down and forbid me to hang out with them. The rest of my freshman year of high school and sophomore year I found myself very alone. I kept myself busy with school and soccer but other than that I really didn’t have a life. I began to seek a more intimate relationship with God to fulfill the void in my life and soon He blessed me by bringing a great Christian friend into my life. She became my best friend and foundation of support and fellowship. Together we kept each other accountable and kept a close group of friends from youth group. My senior year of high school I noticed the more fun I was having with my friends and just enjoying my last year to the fullest, the more I drifted from God. My youth pastor mentioned “putting God in a box”. I realized that that was exactly what I was doing-using God only when I needed him. When my life was going great, I didn’t feel the need to seek God as much. But when I was in a low point of my life, I would pray constantly and read my bible searching for comfort and wisdom. As the end of the school year approached God put an obstacle in my life. This obstacle was the burning question “What do I want to do with my life?” I had applied to Southeastern University with little intent on going there. However as the time came to send in final college decisions I began to consider Southeastern more and more. I prayed fervently asking God to tell me where I should go. Robert Frost’s poem “Road Less Traveled” was stuck in my mind. I had come to a cross roads in my life and either way I went would define and shape who I would become for the rest of my life. I found myself with one foot in worldly things and one foot in the spiritual world. I foresaw myself struggling with the same things if I chose to go to the University of Florida. I wanted to live for God and discover his will for my life. So at the last minute I chose to go to Southeastern University. Although I can’t say what tomorrow will bring, I’m very excited for my future. I’m a big fan of this thing called life and the rollercoaster it takes us on. With every turn and drop, I can believe that everything will be okay because I’m in love with the engineer and fully trust Him.